George Macpherson Coin Silver Handled Cup

ca. 1850.

Maker/Retailer: George Macpherson (active in Natchez ca. 1843-1871)

Mark: “G.MACPHERSON” in rectangular cartouche.

Period Monogram: “ M. L.? W.”

Height: 3 7/8”

George Macpherson was working in Natchez as early as 1843, achristening cup bearing Macphersons mark and the inscription“ Presented to Peyton LeRoy Johnson by his Grand Father on the day of his birth Feb. 26th 1843” proves that he was working in Natchez as early as 1843. Macpherson was trained as a silversmith in Glasgow, Scotland before emigrating to the United States and settling in Natchez.

Alexander Young and Son’s Camden South Carolina Handled Cup.

Mark: A. YOUNG & SON’S. Two pseudo hallmarks: Eagle and bust in ovals.

Period monogram: “N.B.S. to C.T.”

Height: 3 1/4”

Weight: 4.65.

A distinctive and heavy cup by this rareSouth Carolina maker. Round rim with applied beaded edge, lower two thirds of cup is dedecagon ending in a simple protruding rim, hollow applied handle.

According to authorE. Milby Burton in “ South Carolina Silversmiths 1690-1860, Alexander Young was a native of Fifeshire Scotland and came to America as a young man, be was working in Camden, South Carolina as early as 1807. He was a skilled silversmith making a silver trowel used by Lafayette to lay the cornerstone of the DeKalb monument, when he visited Camden in 1825. When Alexander died in 1856 the business was taken over by his two sons.

Condition: Good no repairs, some separation to seam on lower part of handle and dent to upper part of handle.

Gregg Hayden and Company Coin Silver Bowl

Maker: Likely made by Gale and Son, New York (Mark is illegible but closely resembles the shape of their mark)

Retailer: Gregg Hayden and Company.

This beautiful large footed bowl bears the same monogram as the footed salver by William H. Ewan. Both pieces came from the same estate and likely descended in the family.

Monogram possibly “A.B.H.”

Good condition and patina, two barely noticeable dents on the sides.

Diameter: 6 5/8”

Height: 3”

Weight: 11.95 troy.

John A. Miller Paducah Coin Silver

ca. 1868.

Mark: “J.N.O.A. MILLERPADUCAH, K.Y.”

“PURE COIN”

Engraved: “Cook”

Length: 8 1/2”

A large fiddle coin silver spoon by Prussian born silversmith John A. Miller. Miller advertised in Hodgmans’ guide for 1870-71 as a watchmaker and jeweler, 32 Broadway, Paducah. Western Kentucky silver is relatively scarce, it is also rare to be city marked.

Condition: Good, some dark specks in bowl that would come out with polishing. Expected wear and minor scratches associated with use.

This cup is marked as coin silver (900/1000) and also sterling, the sterling mark was added later.

Prontaut appears to be an unpublished georgia retailer and does not appear in The Silversmiths of Georgia by George Cutten or Kovels’ American Silver Marks.

In the dictionary for the city of Augusta, and businesses advertiser for 1859, Prontaut is listedas a jeweler and watchmaker located at 163 Broad Street in Augusta, Georgia.

Antoine Prontaut was born in Paris in 1810, he had twochildren, John Henry, born in New York City in 1842 and daughter Emma Bignon born around 1859 in Georgia. Antoine Prontaut is buried with his wife in Magnolia Cemetery in Augusta.

Condition: Good, old hole repair to front.

Smith and Sloat, Mobile Coin Silver Spoon

ca. 1825-30

Maker: Smith and L. Sloat, (1819-1839)Mobile

Mark: “SMITH & SLOAT MOBILE”

A classic ca. 1825 form with what looks like an unpublished partnership, a rare spoon. L. Warrington Sloat worked in Mobile from 1819 until 1839 on Dauphin Street, at which time he sold his inventory and business to the L’Hommedieu brothers in April 1839. (Ref. Made in Alabama A State Legacy page 308.) At some point Smith and Sloat were in partnership, it is not know when this partnership took place and how long it lasted. There was a Smith listed in Mobile, Silversmiths and Jewelers 1820-1867 by Sidney Adair Smith, he is listed as a jeweler in 1850 so were are not sure if it is the same Smith as the Smith and Sloat partnership.